The chapter begins when Eumaeus and Odysseus are eating breakfast and Telemachus comes home from Pylos. Odysseus is still disguised when Eumaeus and Telemachus talk about him not being able to come home. Then Telemachus tells Eumaeus to go tell Penelope that her son is home. After Eumaeus leaves Athene undisguises Odysseus and he shows Telemachus that he is back and safe. But at first Telemachis does not believe that he is Odysseus, then he finally believes him. The two discuss how to destroy the Suitors and make a plan for this. At the Palace Eumaeus breaks his promise not to tell anyone of Telemachus 's return by telling the women-servants not just the queen Penelope like he was supposed to. Athene redisguises Odysseus just as Eumaeus returns for dinner.
Major Themes:
Divine Intervention
Loyalty
Homeric Hero
Disguise
Hospitality p. 212
Disloyalty p.218
Women's Role p. 220
Hubris
Locations Traveled:
Oddyseus's palace
Eumaeus' Hut
Country in Ithaca
Ithaca
Study Guide Questions: (Helen)
Why does Telemachus go to visit Eumaeus?
He visits Eurmaeus to visit him and to find out whether his mother has married again.
Why is Telemachus mortified at receiving the stranger in his home?
He is unsure of whether he will be able to stave off physical attacks if him and the guest get into an argument also his mother is conflicted between staying in her home to honor Odysseus or to marry one of the suitors.
What does he offer the stranger instead?
He offers the stranger instead to send him clothes and food to Eumaeus's hut.
What does Telemachus ask Eumaeus to do?
He tells him to give a message to Penelope that Telemachus is home from Pylos but to make sure that no one else hears it.
To whom does Athene appear?
Athene appears to Odysseus.
What does she tell Odysseus to do?
she tells him to reveal himself to Telemachus so that they can plot revenge upon the suitors.
How many suitors are there?
There are 108 suitors.
How do they plan to defeat the suitors?
Telemachus will go back to the palace and Odysseus will disguise himself as a beggar.Telemachus will bring the weapons and shields out of the war room using a plausible excuse. They will leave a few weapons ready for themselves, when the suitors are distracted they will kill them.
One of the suitors calls an assembly – what do they discuss here?
They discuss the arrival of Telemachus and that they will send word to their friends bidding them to come hither. They are also plotting the death of Telemachus.
Why does Athene turn Odysseus back into an old man? She turns him back into an old man so no one will figure out that he is Odysseus.
Chapter 16 - Odysseus Meets His Son
Summary:
The chapter begins when Eumaeus and Odysseus are eating breakfast and Telemachus comes home from Pylos. Odysseus is still disguised when Eumaeus and Telemachus talk about him not being able to come home. Then Telemachus tells Eumaeus to go tell Penelope that her son is home. After Eumaeus leaves Athene undisguises Odysseus and he shows Telemachus that he is back and safe. But at first Telemachis does not believe that he is Odysseus, then he finally believes him. The two discuss how to destroy the Suitors and make a plan for this. At the Palace Eumaeus breaks his promise not to tell anyone of Telemachus 's return by telling the women-servants not just the queen Penelope like he was supposed to. Athene redisguises Odysseus just as Eumaeus returns for dinner.
Major Themes:
Locations Traveled:
Oddyseus's palaceEumaeus' Hut
Country in Ithaca
Ithaca
Study Guide Questions: (Helen)
Why does Telemachus go to visit Eumaeus?He visits Eurmaeus to visit him and to find out whether his mother has married again.
Why is Telemachus mortified at receiving the stranger in his home?
He is unsure of whether he will be able to stave off physical attacks if him and the guest get into an argument also his mother is conflicted between staying in her home to honor Odysseus or to marry one of the suitors.
What does he offer the stranger instead?
He offers the stranger instead to send him clothes and food to Eumaeus's hut.
What does Telemachus ask Eumaeus to do?
He tells him to give a message to Penelope that Telemachus is home from Pylos but to make sure that no one else hears it.
To whom does Athene appear?
Athene appears to Odysseus.
What does she tell Odysseus to do?
she tells him to reveal himself to Telemachus so that they can plot revenge upon the suitors.
How many suitors are there?
There are 108 suitors.
How do they plan to defeat the suitors?
Telemachus will go back to the palace and Odysseus will disguise himself as a beggar.Telemachus will bring the weapons and shields out of the war room using a plausible excuse. They will leave a few weapons ready for themselves, when the suitors are distracted they will kill them.
One of the suitors calls an assembly – what do they discuss here?
They discuss the arrival of Telemachus and that they will send word to their friends bidding them to come hither. They are also plotting the death of Telemachus.
Why does Athene turn Odysseus back into an old man?
She turns him back into an old man so no one will figure out that he is Odysseus.